can I have advice on best way to use my points?

[juju]

We're new and this is still very foreign to me. Our use year is October and we already made a mistake in banking our points (thought they were good for the entire year of 2002 not just thru September). 95% of the time we go for two weeks in late Oct-early Nov to hit Food and Wine Festival. We purchased 200 points and we are two adults, no kids so planned on standard studio. You folks are so smart and constantly amaze me at how you have DVC all figured out. Any suggestions on how to use our points so that we don't have to bank points and use for a second trip (very difficult from being the opposite end of the country)and we really aren't looking to use them to go elsewhere. Is there any way to bank them with our Oct use year and still be able to use them for a trip in Oct-Nov? If so, I can't figure it out... Any help would be greatly appreciate

 

[Candace]

I probably am not very good at explaining this. If I understand you correctly, you have no points to use in this year, because you already banked them? If that is correct, you can borrow from the next year for a trip this year. Not ideal, I realize, but I did it myself this year when I decided to take a quick extended weekend trip after I had already banked my points. Member Services can help and explain better than me, but maybe this answers your question?

 

[fkj2]

Candace has pretty much the same understanding as I do. The only thing I can suggest is to borrow enough points for the last week you vacation in October, but use some of the points you banked into your next use year. The bottom line is, even if you hadn't banked all 200 points, you would still have had to use them by the end of October, they couldn't have been used in November because that then becomes you new use year. If you've only reserved a studio, you might want to consider a one bedroom, which offers your own jacuzzi, or try for BWV or VWL (unless you already have one of those reserved) as they require more points. And, even though you said you didn't want to use the points anywhere else, you might reconsider as there are several exchanges out West through the Concierge Collection. And, there's always the cruis

 

[RobDoc]

It sounds to me as though you have banked your Oct 2000 points. They must be used for a reservation between Oct 2001 and Sep.30,2002 when they expire. If you had NOT banked them, they would have expired on Sep 30, 2001- so you have already saved them to be used for a reservation this Oct. YOu will also receive more points on Oct 1,2001- which can be used by Sep 30,2002, or banked.
Please post more information, if my assumptions are incorrect.

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[PamOKW]

I think from Juju's earlier post this is what has happened.

Her October 2000 points have been banked into 2001. They need to be used by the end of September 2002. Her next trip is October 2002 just after these points expire.

Sorry, there isn't anything that will move these points even further into 2002. You have to do something with them starting 9/1/01 and by the end of Sept. 2002. Have you taken a look at the different travel options? Is there something near you that would appeal? How about some friends or relatives that might want to try one of those options and/or a trip to WDW? You have quite a bit of time to think about what to do with these points.

 

[Caskbill]

I think PamOKW's observation is right. If your first trip isn't until Oct 2002, then your 2000 year points were never able to be used then, banked or not. You essentially would be asking to use year 2000 points in 2002.

This is an important point EVERYONE should know:

Your use year is not the same as a fiscal calendar year!

Those points must be used prior to Sep 30, 2002. Think of that as being your Dec 31st date for your use year.

As you're probably aware, for you October becomes your New Year (think of Oct 1st as if it were Jan 1st of a new year)

Your years then are as follows:

2000 ....... Oct 1, 2000 to Sep 30, 2001
2001 ....... Oct 1, 2001 to Sep 30, 2002
2002 ....... Oct 1, 2002 to Sep 30, 2003
2003 ....... Oct 1, 2003 to Sep 30, 2004
etc.

Using the above, you can bank points from any year into the following year, or you can borrow points from any year into the prior year.

For example you can bank any 2001 points into 2002, and/or you can borrow any 2003 points into 2002. There is no way you can use any year 2000 points in the year 2002 timeframe (10/1/02 thru 9/30/03). Unfortunately you will either have to use them or lose them.

You have several choices:

1. Take another vacation to WDW sometime during <u>your</u> 2001 use year, utilizing your banked 2000 year points.

2. Give the points to another family member or friend who can use the points during your 2001 use year timeframe.

3. Rent the points to someone else. (See the Rent/Trade board)

4. Use the points outside of WDW sometime in <u>your</u> 2001 year: DCL, Concierge Collection, or II.

Hope this helps.

Caskbill

[This message was edited by Caskbill on 03-28-01 at 09:43 PM.]

 

[dianeschlicht]

You stated that very well! I was trying to figure out a good way to put it, and once again, you came through!

Disneydiane

 

[Caskbill]

Thanks Diane for the kind words.

Caskbill

 

[juju]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I should have asked this a few weeks ago when I thought I knew what I was doing...Now I am thinking the best thing to do is to make sure I use up all of my points and then borrow from the next if I need a few extra to make sure that I use them all up. Anyway,I knew that I could count on y'all! You are all so saavy with DVC.